Have you noticed or heard a buzzing sound in the sky? In the quieter countryside, away from the major road network.

Well, that buzzing sound might not be as innocent as you may have thought.

Some criminals are using drones, Google Earth, and more traditional drive-bys to check where security cameras, vehicles, and machinery are stored and to spot whether people are working on the farm or around buildings. They can relay this information to their partners on the ground and be in and out of a location within minutes.

The popular targets are quads, trailers, and tractors. There’s a ready-to-go market for them. Just because you have been targeted once does not mean the next time thieves are in the area, they will bypass you. It has been known that thieves can return a few weeks after the initial incident, as they know there will be a new replacement vehicle on site.

Personalising any vehicle will help with identification and recovery. Make notes about the vehicle identification number (VIN) and distinguishing or unique features, and take photos of what specialist equipment, tractor, or quad will look like, so the images are ideal and easy to take on your phone any time.

The more information you can share with the police, the better, based on your description. If you have a dent or anything personal added to the vehicle, record that.

You must help by reporting any crime or suspicious behaviour, noting things like vehicle registrations. A minor incident on your farm may not mean much to you, but if it happened to two or three or more of your neighbours, then it suddenly becomes three or four reported incidents, and that could be a big problem for someone.